The specimen-container loading or storing unit includes: a plurality of types of specimen trays having a different size of a specimen tray that is provided with a plurality of specimen container installation parts for holding a specimen container; a specimen container transferring mechanism for transferring the specimen container between a conveyance line and the specimen tray; and a specimen tray installation part capable of installing the plurality of types of specimen trays.

A model-based method of inspecting a specimen for presence of one or more artifacts (e.g., a clot, bubble, and/or foam). The method includes capturing multiple images of the specimen at multiple different exposures and at multiple spectra having different nominal wavelengths, selection of optimally-exposed pixels from the captured images to generate optimally-exposed image data for each spectra, computing statistics of the optimally-exposed pixels to generate statistical data, identifying a serum or plasma portion of the specimen, and classifying, based on the statistical data, whether an artifact is present or absent within the serum or plasma portion. Testing apparatus and quality check modules adapted to carry out the method are described, as are other aspects.

A method of reading machine-readable marks on a movable support and object of a sample instrument. The method includes capturing a first image of the moveable support as the moveable support moves from a first position to a second position using an image capture device; determining whether a first fiducial machine-readable mark on the moveable support is in the first image; determining, when the first fiducial machine-readable mark is in the first image, whether a first machine-readable mark on a first object coupled to the moveable support is in the first image at a predetermined position relative to the first fiducial machine-readable mark; and associating information decoded from the first machine-readable mark on the first object with a first location on the moveable support associated with the first fiducial machine-readable mark.

A rack for holding samples and various reagents, wherein the rack may be used for loading the samples and reagents prior to using the reagents. The rack accepts complementary reagent holders, each of which contain a set of reagents for carrying out a predetermined processing operation, such as preparing biological samples for amplifying and detecting polynucleotides extracted from the samples.

The present invention provides an automatic blood-sampling tube preparation device which can detect the presence of the proper or improper blood-sampling tube by selectively taking out a blood-sampling tube and transferring the blood-sampling tube to a label pasting position, printing information of the patient on a label, pasting the printed label on the blood-sampling tube positioned in the label pasting position, and collecting the label pasted blood-sampling tubes in the container for each patient. The device also includes photographing means for photographing an appearance of the blood-sampling tube taken out from the blood-sampling tube containing section and a control means arranged to have a threshold with respect to at least one characteristic information previously extracted from an appearance of a blood-sampling tube, to extract the characteristic information from the appearance image photographed to judge whether the blood-sampling tube corresponds to the instruction information from the doctor.

An automatic analyzing apparatus includes a reagent depository, a wave radiator, a wave receiver, a switcher, and processing circuitry. The wave radiator sends a radio wave to a plurality of wireless tags. The wireless tags are comprised by respective reagent containers in the reagent depository or by respective reagent containers at a reagent retaining space. The wave receiver receives return radio waves from the wireless tags that have received the radio wave. The switcher changes a response state of one of the wireless tags. The processing circuitry specifies reagent information corresponding to the reagent container that comprises the response state-changed wireless tag, based on the return radio waves received before and after the response state is changed.

A glass slide supply storage unit 1 includes a supply portion 10 where a plurality of slide trays 2 are mountable such that the plurality of slide trays 2 are stacked in a z direction, and a moving mechanism TM1 configured to individually move the plurality of slide trays 2 mounted on the supply portion 10 in a X direction. A plurality of glass slides 3 on each of which a sample is placed are placeable on each of the plurality of slide trays 2.

A parallel processing system for processing samples is described. In one embodiment, the parallel processing system includes an instrument interface parallel controller to control a tray motor driving system, a close-loop heater control and direction system, a magnetic particle transfer system, a reagent release system, a reagent pre-mix pumping system and a wash buffer pumping system.

Systems for reading machine-readable labels, for example, two-dimensional barcodes, include a housing, a reader configured to read the machine-readable labels on sample receptacles as a sample rack holding the sample receptacles move between a first position and a second position within the housing. The system includes a processing and control unit configured to decode a read image of the machine-readable labels on each sample receptacle, and configured to associate a decoded read images with the corresponding sample receptacles based on measured positions of the sample rack when the machine-readable label was read.

Described herein are sample manipulation devices, for removing lids from and/or for placing lids onto sample containers. Such devices include a sample unit including a sample carrier receptacle for receiving at least one sample carrier for holding one or more sample containers, and a manipulation unit having at least one manipulation tool, where the sample unit and the manipulation unit are movable relative to each other along a movement direction. The sample unit is also movable between a first orientation in which a longitudinal direction of a sample carrier in the sample carrier receptacle is parallel to the movement direction between sample unit and manipulation unit, and a second orientation in which a transverse direction, which is orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, of a sample carrier in the sample carrier receptacle is parallel to the movement direction between sample unit and manipulation unit.